Ireland must stand up for justice
This is in spite of the fact that she and her political party, the National League for Democracy, were elected to power by the people of Burma in 1990 in a landslide victory.
Fourteen years on, the world not only continues to tolerate the military regime that governs Burma, but recently the EU has gone so far as to accept the participation of Burma in ASEM - the Asia-Europe meeting.
Earlier this year, while Aung San Suu Kyi was again under house arrest, the Irish Government announced its decision to establish diplomatic relations with Burma. Thankfully it has put this decision on hold.
In the past week the prime minister of the military junta, who was perceived as a moderate in that regime, was removed from his position by the hard-line generals. Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest and concerns are increasing for her safety.
Burma’s military regime has one of the worst human rights records in the world. Forced labour, torture and the detention of political prisoners is widespread and have been highlighted time and time again. It is time to end the silence on the continuing abuses of human rights in Burma, and to raise our voice in protest at the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi.
We urge the Irish Government in its own right, and through the EU and the UN, to exert maximum political and economic pressure on the brutal military regime in Burma in the hope that Aung San Suu Kyi will not be marking 10 years in detention this time next year.
Justin Kilcullen
Director
Trócaire
Maynooth
Co Kildare
